How to Clean Grout Have you ever noticed your grout go from white to grey? Yup, dirt builds up here and one day it’s not going to look so new anymore! It can be pretty expensive to hire a vendor who specializes in grout cleaning so if you are cost conscientious and are in for a chore that can double as a workout you can do it yourself. Now that’s self-gratification! Here are a few different ways you can get the job done: Baking Soda & Water – Mix 3 parts of baking soda to 1 part water to make a thick paste. This cleaner is versatile and works with all colors of grout (this isn’t the best option for natural stones like marble or travertine). It’s easiest to use your fingers to apply the paste between the grout lines, that way you can reach every nook and cranny….

How To Clean A Fireplace Cleaning a fireplace is usually one of the those items that is overlooked, even in a deep home cleaning. It is important to regularly clean the fireplace as the leftover build up from fires can become toxic and can potentially harm your family. Wait at least 24 hours since the last time the fireplace has been used. Cleaning the inside of a Fireplace Supplies Needed: Plastic tarp Old Towels or Sheets Apron Handheld Broom and Dust Pan Vacuum Trash Bags STEP ONE: Prep the area. Lay a plastic tarp around and in front of the fireplace area. If you do not have a plastic tarp, old towels will do. Also, make sure to wear an apron and protective gloves. You may also want to wear old clothes as soot and dirt can be difficult to get off. If you have furniture close by it may…

How to Clean The Oven The cleaning of an oven usually involves harsh chemicals that create fumes and an unsafe environment for your family. Here I will show you a completely safe way to clean your oven with everyday products you likely have already in your home. All you need is a few items and a little elbow grease! I will list two options depending on the type of oven you have in your home. SELF CLEANING OVEN SUPPLIES NEEDED: Water Dish Soap Sponge Vinegar Small Brush and Dust Pan 2 or 3 Gentle Clothes STEP ONE: Choose a time when the kitchen is not being used. Open windows and possibly doors to ventilate the room so that fumes do not bother family members. Make sure you will be home for the length of the self clean. (The average self clean cycle can last 3 to 6 hours) STEP TWO:…

Is your life in disarray? Do you have trouble finding things? Do you constantly forget stuff? If so, don’t worry — you’re like most of the human population. Disorganization is a natural state of order. It takes an obsessive-compulsive (like myself) to get the chaos of the universe into some form of organization. If you have a desire to get organized, here are my favorite organization tips … stuff I’ve learned along the way, from other sources and from experimentation. 1. Everything in its place. If you just followed one tip on this list, this would be it. Practice this, and you can skip the rest of the tips and articles listed in this post. Seriously. So how do you do it? It’s simple. For everything that you own, designate a place for it. You can even label some of those places, to make it easier to remember. Find something that doesn’t…

VINEGAR Vinegar is by far one of the most versatile cleaning agents. Use it to remove soap scum from the shower. Mix it with borax to get rid of hard-water rings in the toilet. Tape a bag of vinegar to your shower head and leave it overnight for an easy, sparkly clean; or add a couple of tablespoons of white vinegar to your dish soap to eliminate grease in the kitchen. HYDROGEN PEROXIDE You use your toothbrush to clean your teeth, but don’t forget about cleaning your toothbrush. Let it soak in hydrogen peroxide for a few minutes to get rid of any lingering germs. Hydrogen peroxide is also useful on many hard surfaces. Use it to scrub your toilet, trash cans, shower, mirrors and doorknob. You can even mix it with equal parts water for a safe and effective solution for mopping the bathroom and kitchen floors. LEMONS The...

How to Clean Your Dishwasher Your dishwasher is always hard at work cleaning your dishes, but what cleans the dishwasher? Often times dishwashers operate for years without receiving the attention that they need and required in order to continue to run efficiently and not fall apart. Out of all of the things in your house, often times this one is neglected. Here is a list of things you will need to get your dishwasher looking new: Sponge Distilled white vinegar Baking soda Screwdriver (if needed) Dish soap Toothbrush (for small to reach areas) Microfiber cloth Stainless steel cleaner Multipurpose cleaner Instructions 1. Empty the dishwasher. Cleaning the dishwasher while it is full just won’t work. 2. Remove the racks and and other compartments that can be removed from the inside of your dishwasher. 3. Wipe the bottom of the door and any dishwasher grates that you might have (the bottom…

Monsoon season hasn’t ended just yet here in Phoenix, AZ. During the monsoon season (or summer thunderstorm season), Arizona experiences severe weather that can bring high winds, dust and severe downpours. With those high winds and dust storms, your house can become very dusty and dirty. If you need help with house cleaning in Phoenix or home cleaning in Scottsdale, due to the dust that has accumulated over the monsoon season, give Queen of Maids a call or visit our website. Queen of Maids provide background checked cleaners and a 200% happiness guarantee. You can book your cleaning online, instantly. There are no pricing games or other hassles. Get started now at www.queenofmaids.com/book. House cleaning services have never been this easy.

Don’t forget your garage when house cleaning in Phoenix Living in Phoenix, Arizona you’re outside a lot and items begin to pile up in your garage day after day at the park with kids or a trip to the pool. Pretty soon your neat, clean garage has been turned upside down and you don’t know where to turn. This is normal. Your garage is where everything from Christmas decoration to scooters are stored. However, there is a way to utilize the space you do have to the full potential and this is how. First, plan a time to dedicate to cleaning out your garage and stick to it. A weekend would be best, but any day will do. Get the whole family involved! Everyone can have a role! Spread it out over a couple days so you are not overwhelmed. Second, it is time to separate. You will now place...